Justice IG to Review Pre-Election Activity of DOJ, FBI

Department of Justice Inspector General Michael E. Horowitzannounced the initiation of a reviewof allegations regarding certain actions by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in advance of the 2016 election.

According to the DOJ OIG press release, the review will examine:

Allegations that Department or FBI policies or procedures were not followed in connection with, or in actions leading up to or related to, the FBI Director’s public announcement on July 5, 2016, and the Director’s letters to Congress on October 28 and November 6, 2016, and that certain underlying investigative decisions were based on improper considerations;

Allegations that the FBI Deputy Director should have been recused from participating in certain investigative matters;

Allegations that the Department’s Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs improperly disclosed non-public information to the Clinton campaign and/or should have been recused from participating in certain matters;

Allegations that decisions regarding the timing of the FBI’s release of certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents on October 30 and November 1, 2016, and the use of a Twitter account to publicize same, were influenced by improper considerations.

Announcement of the review stems from requests from numerous Chairmen and Ranking Members of Congressional committees, organizations and members of the public.